Summer heat brings back not-so-fond memories

There are moments in your life that you will never forget, like first learning to ride a bike, graduating from high school or getting married. All of these are special occasions that overcome us with a feeling of joy and accomplishment. And every now and then, something you see or hear will remind you of these times you hold so closely to your heart.

Unfortunately, the increasing temperatures have brought me no pleasant memories whatsoever since it reminds me of all the times I've been incomprehensibly hot -- times in which I was so thirsty that if I had a magic lamp and three wishes, two of them would have been for bottled water and another for an air-conditioned bubble to relieve me of the sun's madness.

One such incident happened when I was just 12 years old. My family and I took a trip out west where we stayed at Zion Canyon National Park. We got there around noon and were immediately ready to do something outdoorsy after being stuck in the car for hours.

"Let's take a hike to Angel's Landing! I did it when I was in college!" my stepdad said in a proud my-friends-call-me-Davy-Crockett sort of way.

So we made our way with the sun high in the sky and a bottled water for each one of us and stood at the base of a cliff that should have had a sign that said, "WARNING: A fiery death awaits you."

About 50 steps up the path, I think my mom had a glimpse into the future and realized what lay ahead of us.

"Well, I'm not gonna make it guys. Have fun," she said as she quickly made her way to a picnic table and sat down.

So my stepdad, his daughter and me continued up the trail while we casually sipped away at our precious water.

We should have known something was wrong when we asked hikers making their way back down what time they started.

"Five this morning," they'd say, sounding like they knew the three of us were doomed.

For some reason we kept going. I think it was because my stepdad wanted to relive his glory days as a healthy college student and proclaim to the world once again that he defied all odds to get to the top of this hellish mountain.

The three of us soon began showing signs of death; however, and we came to a stop to decide whether we should keep going.

"What do you kids think?" my stepdad asked as he looked down on us with crazed eyes and sweat-drenched clothes.

At that point, I no longer had any saliva so I just gave him a look that let him know I was about to become a statistic, joining the list of tourists who die every year trying to climb this trail.

"Maybe we should give it up," my stepsister said.

So that was that. Angel's Landing would have to wait some other time for us to defeat it.

Next time I'll go earlier in the day with more water -- or a magic lamp.

Sam DeReign is a graduate of Oran High School and attends Southeast Missouri State University. Contact him at sdereign@ semissourian.com.